The Los Alamos spheromak programme
Executive Summary
System Metadata
Source ID
DOC-LANL_SPH
Process Date
2/3/2026
Integrity Hash
SHA256-1aero6q91ij...
Indexer Status
COMPLETE
INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS
Layman's Executive Summary
This document outlines research from Los Alamos National Laboratory regarding 'spheromaks,' which are self-contained rings of plasma that use their own magnetic fields to stay organized. The researchers successfully developed methods to keep these plasma rings stable and active for longer periods, a key step toward achieving practical fusion energy.
Document Origin
The document was authored by a team of 14 researchers, including B.L. Wright and T.R. Jarboe, at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico, USA. It was published as a journal article in 'Nuclear Fusion.'
Research Purpose
The research sought to improve the stability and duration of spheromak plasma configurations. Specifically, they were testing the 'relaxation principle' and 'helicity injection' to prevent the plasma from decaying or tilting, which are major hurdles in magnetic fusion energy.
Relevancy Analysis
" This document is a foundational record for the CTX experiment, a precursor to modern Compact Toroid and Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) research. The technical focus on self-organizing magnetic fields and high-beta plasma stability is highly relevant to both advanced fusion energy and speculative aerospace propulsion 'black programs' often associated with the National Laboratories. Furthermore, it connects key figures like Rulon Linford and Thomas Jarboe to the early development of plasma technologies now being explored by both private entities and defense contractors. "
Extracted Verifiable Claims
- › Spheromaks in the CTX experiment were sustained for over 5 milliseconds.
- › The researchers used a 0.67-meter mesh flux conserver to provide MHD stability.
- › The efficiency of magnetic helicity transfer from the magnetized electrode to the plasma was measured at effectively 100%.
- › The capacitor bank voltage in the CTX experiment was reduced from 45 kV to 10 kV during the transition to sustained operation.
- › The document identifies 14 specific authors affiliated with Los Alamos National Laboratory, including B.L. Wright, R.K. Linford, and T.R. Jarboe.
Technical Contribution
This paper provides empirical evidence that spheromaks can be sustained for over 5 milliseconds—significantly longer than their natural decay time—by using magnetized co-axial plasma sources and specifically shaped 'oblate' containers.